The Mets are All Wright

Finally, the Mets signed their home grown super star to a long term/life ending contract.  At 8 years and $138 million, this is the largest contract ever given to anyone by the New York Mets. It even trumps the mega-deal for Johan Santana in 2008, by $0.5 million, although that was only a 6 year deal.  Many baseball writers are claiming this is exactly what the Mets needed to move forward after years of fallout from Bernie Madoff and his personal vendetta against the world.  But now, we have our savior!

This is one good looking dude...

I only hope he decides to 1) stay healthy from now on and 2) go 30-100 when he's healthy for a full year (ahem....2012).  That's the part that really bothers me.  No one seems to be expressing concern of his stats from last season, namely 21 home runs and 93 RBIs in 156 games....that's not good enough for a franchise player making more than $16 million a year.  And don't argue that his stats were down because he had bad players around him. Remember 2010? Just as bad a team, but with 29 home runs and 103 RBIs from Wright. When you add the fact that David was hitting .350 for much of the first half and those final numbers become that much more worrisome.

AND he has only hit more than 30 home runs ONCE in his career. I know home runs as a statistic is completely outdated and apparently useless if you talk to WAR followers (much too confusing for my taste), but still... It almost feels like the Mets were saying "David Wright had some really good years when we just gave up (2006-2008).  Now that he's turning thirty with two prior major injuries, should we give him big money?  We kinda have to, we have no one else to give big money to and we can't have a franchise player without paying more than he's worth when his bones begin to disintegrate at age 38 and if we don't have a franchise player....we look silly." 

Who in this picture deserves the big money???

But in the end, I am glad they were able to keep David long term. He was always a better overall value than Reyes because of his offense power.  But this doesn't mean we're ready to start Spring Training. Not by a long shot.  When the Winter Meetings start this coming Monday, much could happen to shake things up, particularly if Zack Greinke and Josh Hamilton sign as a result of some GM wheeling and dealing.

But the Mets could also be a big player in the Winter Meetings if they decide to part ways with their Cy Young Award Champion R.A. Dickey.  I just don't know what to think about this guy.  Hoe much value will other teams put on a 38 year old knuckleballer, with a knuckle ball no one has ever thrown, who didn't get good until he was 36 and then became the best pitcher in the National League two years later?

Dickey ANGRY!!!!

In my opinion, sign him for 2 years (after next season) for under $10 million each year.  If he is leading a pitching staff of Jon Neise, Mat Harvey, Dillon Gee and Zack Wheeler by 2014, then by God, we have a shot at this.  Winning a World Series requires pitching, pitching, pitching (and a little bit of offense, just to spice things up).  If Dickey won the Cy Young at 38, there's no reason he can't be a stellar pitcher, or at least really good, in a year or two.  Don't trade him for prospects and uncertainty. Let him  be a part of a winning ball club in the near future.

I just hope the Mets don't screw this up because of a little thing like 'money.'